Ladder mounting means for chalk line

ABSTRACT

The disclosed invention has to do with the handling of a wall marking chalk line such as is commonly used by sign painters and similarly employed workmen and pertains, more particularly, to novel means which is detachably and adjustably bracketed on a stile of one ladder of a pair of spaced companion ladders and which features headed means adjacent the wall surface to which one end of a chalk line is attached. The invention enables one man, working alone, to ascend the ladder adjacent the free end of the chalk line and to snap a guide line on the building wall. A pair of cooperating brackets provide the novel adapter means. This means is detachably mounted on one stile of the ladder. One of the brackets serves to support the median portion of a shiftable rod. The forward end of one embodiment of the rod is provided with a spring-loaded head to which one end of the chalk line is tied and thus anchored. In a second embodiment the headed end of the rod is stationary and bears against the wall surface to function as the ladder stand-off, that is, to clear the ladder from projecting neon signs and the like on the wall.

United States Patent Bailey [is] 3,675,735 51 July 11,1972

[54] LADDER MOUNTING MEANS FOR CHALK LINE [72] Inventor: [Area C. Daley, Coos Bay, Ore.

[73] Assignee: .Iamea C. Thompson, Coos Bay. Oreg. ;a

partinterest 221 Filed: M29, 1910 21 Appl.N0.: 102,335

(52] US. l- IWIZ, 33/87 [51] lnLCl ..E06c$/32,B44d3/38 [S8] FleldofSeaIclt ..l82l2l4, l29,239;33/86,87

[ References Clted UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT The dieltled invention has to do with the handling ofa wall markingchalk line such as is commonly used by sign painters and similarly employed workmen and pertains, more particularly. to novel means which is detachably and adjustably braekeledonastileofoneladderofapairofspacedcompsnion ladders and which features headed means adjacent the wall surface to which one end of a chalk line is attached. The invention enables one man. working alone. to ascend the ladder adjacent the free end of the chalk line and to snap a tide line On the building wall. A pair of cooperating brackets provide the novel adapter means. This means is detachahly Inottntedon one stile of the ladder. One of the brackets serves to support the median portion of a shifiable rod. The forward end of one embodiment of the rod is provided with a springloadedheadtowhichone endofthechalk line istied and thus anchored. In a second embodiment the headed end of the rod is stationary and bears against the wall surface to function as the ladder stand-elf. that is. to clear the ladder from projecting neonai nsand the lilreonthewall.

SCIaInaJDrawhgflgures P'A'TENTEDJUL 1 1 m2 3, 675 735 sum 2 as 2 Fig. 4

a0 54\ as T58 68 Loren C. Bailey INVENTOK M WW 39m LADDER MOUNTING MEANS FOR CHALK LINE This invention relates, broadly stated, to scaffold-type ladders, that is, to a pair of like or correspondingly constructed ladders which are leaned against the surface of a vertical building wall, there being a plank hung between the ladders and serving as a scaffold. The stile of one of the ladders is provided with dual bracket-type adapter means and one of the brackets is provided with novel rod means whose headed inner end is adapted to bear against the wall surface.

As will be hereinafter more fully appreciated two forms of the invention are revealed. This is to say, the adapter means is characterized by two complemental brackets. One bracket, which is preferably U-shaped, is detachably and clampingly mounted on a stile of the ladder. One leg, usually the outer leg of the U-bracket is utilized as a mount for a plate or cleat portion of a second bracket. The second bracket is pivotally, adjustably and clampingly mounted on the U-bracket and one marginal edge is provided with an open-ended sleeve which provides a socket member for the median portion of a rod. One rod, which may be solid, is slidingly mounted in the sleeve or socket member and has a rubber capped head which contacts the wall and thus provides a stand-off for spacing the ladder from a neon sign or the like. The other embodiment has a spring-loaded rod member on the forward end which has a headed neck to which one free end of a chalk line is retentively tied.

Persons conversant with the state of the art which the invention relates are aware that it is common practice to provide at least one pair of aluminum wooden or equivalent ladders which are propped against a wall and wherein a plank is positioned in the space between the ladders and is attached thereto by hanger brackets or the like. It is also common practice when desiring to snap a chalk line for two men to take care of the job. This means that both men have to ascend the rounds of the ladders to assume level positions and have to hold the respective ends of the chalk line against the wall so that it can be snapped to provide the guide line desired. The purpose of the instant invention, as is perhaps already evident, is to make it possible through the use of a novel device on one of the stiles of the ladder to permit one end of the line to be tied and anchored and to permit the painter at the other end to ascent his ladder and to enable him, acting on his own, to snap the line to provide the guide line desired.

Briefly the concept is such that it is characterized by either one or two ladders. Normally two ladders are provided. This is to say, the two ladders are leaned or propped with their upper ends against a given wall surface. The plank is hung by fixtures on the respective ladders at whatever level desired. In the in stant situation instead of having to employ two persons to handle the snap line stop only one person is necessary. This is to say, by utilizing the adapter means, rod and other features one end of the line is anchored and stays put in a spring biased position against the wall surface. The other end of the line is caught hold of by the occupant of the ladder on which he is standing and the line is snapped in a manner to permit the job to be accomplished by a single person. It is believed however that it is within the purview of the concept to provide a single ladder with or without the scaffold and wherein adapter means is adjustably mounted on a stile of the ladder and which is made up of a pair of companion brackets the outer one of which serves as a support for a median portion of the rod. The rod can be either solid or tubular. One end of the rod can be fonned with a rigid head to rest against the wall to provide the aforementioned stand-off feature. In the other form of the invention the rod can be tubular and provided with a spring. A portion of the rod is mounted for reciprocation in the hollow portion of the tubular rod and the free end of the rod is provided with a headed neck to which an end of a line is detachably conncctable.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a fragmentary portion of a building wall, a pair of duplicate scaffold type ladders, a plank suspended by hangers between companion portions of the respective ladders and showing, what is more significant, one of the aforementioned slidingly mounted rods and the adapter means whereby a median portion is operatively mounted on one of the stiles of the ladder.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective on a suitably enlarged scale showing the spring biased rod construction and more particularly the adapter means, that is, the U-bracket and the complemental pivoted and adjustably mounted bracket which serves to support a cooperating portion of the aforementioned rod.

FIG. 3 is a view of a fragmentary elevational nature which shows the aforementioned second bracket, that is the bracket which is provided with the open-ended socket member and which is pivotally mounted on the first bracket, that is the U- shaped bracket.

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken approximately on the plane of the vertical section line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view with parts in section and elevation showing the embodiment wherein the spring biased headed member is slidingly mounted in the cylinder portion of the tubular rod.

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation on a suitably small scale and which is diagrammatic in nature and which shows how a solid rod with a headed inner end is used to bear against the wall in a manner to space the ladder in a "stand-off position relative to the building wall, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the capped end of the type of rod appearing in FIG. 6.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it is to be reiterated that the overall concept has certain generic aspects and in addition specific aspects. It is believed that the overall nature of the inventive concept can be ascertained by examining FIG. I in conjunction with the other detailed views and wherein it will be noted that FIG. I shows a pair of like scafiold type ladders and FIG. 6 shows at least one ladder with the stand-off means provided.

With reference to FIG. I the ladder at the left is noted by the numeral 8 and the lower portion thereof is provided with a conventional type hanger 10 for end portion 12 of a plank 14 which serves as a scaffold. The other end portion I6 is suspended by a similar hanger I8 on the rungs of the ladder, at the right, that is the one which is most significant here and which is differentiated by the numeral 20. The snap line is denoted at 22 and is conventional and one end portion at the right is differentiated by the numeral 24 and the other free end portion by the numeral 26. It is the end portion 26 which in practice is held by the single user. This is to say, the end portion 24 is the end which is mechanically tied making it possible for one man to do the snap line job.

The rod means appearing particularly in FIG. 1 to 5 inclusive is denoted generally by the numeral 28. More specifically, it comprises a tubular member which constitutes the cylinder 30 and which contains a coil spring 32 of proper construction and tension having its right had end bearing against a limit stop pin or equivalent limit stop means 34. The endmost coil 36 at the lefi bears against the head 38 of a rod component which is a part of the overall rod means and which is characterized by a slidingly mounted rod 40. The rearward end portion of the rod means is denoted at 42 (FIG. I and which serves as handling means. The other spring loaded or spring biased end is denoted as the inner end and is referred to as being headed and provided with a neck. More specifically, the rod 40 is provided with a ball-like head 44 having a neck 46 which is suitable for attachment thereto of the tied end portion 24 of the snap line 22. The end portion 48 of the cylinder is closed by a centrally apertured fixedly mounted washer 50 having a guide hold 52 therein. Thus the headed part of the overall rod means is spring biased and consequently the head 44 is yieldingly pressed against the coacting surface of the building wall, that is, the wall W in FIG. I.

The adapter means for detachably and adjustably supporting and mounting this rod means on a stile 21 of the ladder is made up of a pair of brackets. More specifically and as best shown in FlG. 2 one bracket is U-shaped as denoted at 54 and one leg 56 is provided with a nut or the like $8 to accommodate a screw threaded shank 60 which provides a set screw and which has its extended outer end provided with handle means 62. The inner end as shown in FIG. 4, is adapted to be clampingly bound against a surface of the ladder stile 21 (FIG. 4). The other leg 64 is connected by the bight portion 66 to the leg 56 and the leg 64 accommodates a pivot 68 for the second bracket 70. This bracket 70 comprises a plate, cleat, clip or the like 72 which is superimposed upon the exterior surface of the leg 64 and is pivoted thereto at the point 68. It will be noted in FIG. 3 for example that a portion of this plate is provided with an arcuate slot 74 to accommodate a clamping screw, that is, a screw which is provided with an accessible wing nut 76 providing a finger grip. The upper edge portion of this cleat is provided with an open-ended sleeve 78 which constitutes a socket member. The median portion of the rod means, more particularly the cylinder 30 is slidingly mounted in this socket member and is held in a set portion by a suitably arranged set screw 80. it will be evident therefore that the second bracket 70 pivotally and adjustably mounts the rod means so that it can be adjusted to the desired level as brought out in FIG. 1 and so that the headed end 44 can be positioned in cooperative contact with the surface of the wall. it follows that the right hand end of the line can be tied to the neck 46 after which the painter or other user can ascent the ladder 8, can catch hold of the free end portion 26 and can, without the aid of an assistant, snap the marker line in a well known and desirable manner.

The simpler aspect of the concept is that shown in FIG. 6 where it will be evident that the ladder in question is denoted by the numeral 82 and is of any suitable construction. Here again the adapter means is the same as that already described and therefore the same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts to tie in or connect the adapter means for the respective concepts of the invention. In the adaptation apearing in FIG. 6 the adapter means serves to accommodate a single elongated horizontal rod 84 whose median portion 86 is slidable in the aforementioned socket member 78. The outer end portion of the rod provides handling means as at 88. The o posite end portion 90 is provided with a cap-like rubber or equivalent tip 92 which constitutes the head means and which bears directly against the surface 94 of the wall in the manner illustrated. Here the rod means and bracket means serves as a "stand-off for spacing the ladder 82 from the wall that is so that it will be in an inclined position but clear of the neon sign or other projection 96 which may be mounted on the wall.

It is believed that by referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 the two specific aspects of the generic invention will be clear. By considering the other views, particularly FIGS. 1 to inclusive the dual ladder aspect will be understandably clear. Accordingly, a more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modificatiom and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. In combination, a ladder, a scaffold type for example, a horizontally elongated rod, said rod having wall contacting head means at a forward end adapted to rest directly against a surface of a relatively stationary wall surface and a free rearward end for expeditious manual handling, adapter means designed and adapted to detachably and adjustably mount a median portion of said rod on a selected stile of said ladder, said head means being spring biased and embodies a headed neck to which one end of a wall marking chalk line can be connected and anchored for snap-line use.

2. The combination defined in and according to claim I,

and wherein said adapter means comprises a first bracket which is detachably and adjustably clamped on a stile of said ladder, and a complements! second bracket which is pivotally and clampingly mounted on said first bracket.

3. in combination, a ladder, a scaffold type for example, a horizontally elongated rod, said rod having wall contacting head means at a forward end adapted to rest directly against a surface of a relatively stationary wall surface and a free rearward end for expeditious manual handling, adapter means designed and adapted to detachably and adjustably mount a median portion of said rod on a selected stile of said ladder, said adapter means comprising a first bracket which is detachably and adjustably clamped on a stile of said ladder, and a complemental second bracket which is pivotally and clampingly mounted on said first bracket, said first bracket being U-shaped, said second bracket comprising a cleat which is provided with an integral open-ended sleeve, said sleeve providing an open-end socket member in which said rod is shiftably slidable and is capable of being held in a given adjusted position.

4. ln combination, type ladders which against a given wall use, for example,

a pair of upstanding companion scaffold are adapted to be inclined and propped surface in suitably spaced positions for by a sign painter, a horizontal plank spanning the space between and supported by hangers carried by the stiles of said ladders, said plank providing a scaffold, a horizontally elongated rod having forward and rearward ends, and adapter means mounted on one of the stiles of one of said ladders, said rod being pivotally and adjustably mounted on said one stile, the forward end of said rod having a rigid head joined to the rod proper by a reduced neck to which one end of a chalk line is tied and thus anchored in a snap line wall marking position.

5. The combination defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said rod is slidingly mounted and is spring biased and cushioned in a manner to yieldingly contact said wall surface.

I II 4' i l 

1. In combination, a ladder, a scaffold type for example, a horizontally elongated rod, said rod having wall contacting head means at a forward end adapted to rest directly against a surface of a relatively stationary wall surface and a free rearward end for expeditious manual handling, adapter means designed and adapted to detachably and adjustably mount a median portion of said rod on a selected stile of said ladder, said head means being spring biased and embodies a headed neck to which one end of a wall marking chalk line can be connected and anchored for snap-line use.
 2. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said adapter means comprises a first bracket which is detachably and adjustably clamped on a stile of said ladder, and a complemental second bracket which is pivotally and clampingly mounted on said first bracket.
 3. In combination, a ladder, a scaffold type for example, a horizontally elongated rod, said rod having wall contacting head means at a forward end adapted to rest directly against a surface of a relatively stationary wall surface and a free rearward end for expeditious manual handling, adapter means designed and adapted to detachably and adjustably mount a median portion of said rod on a selected stile of said ladder, said adapter means comprising a first bracket which is detachably and adjustably clamped on a stile of said ladder, and a complemental second bracket which is pivotally and clampingly mounted on said first bracket, said first bracket being U-shaped, said second bracket comprising a cleat which is provided with an integral open-ended sleeve, said sleeve providing an open-end socket member in which said rod is shiftably slidable and is capable of being held in a given adjusted position.
 4. In combination, a pair of upstanding companion scaffold type ladders which are adapted to be inclined and propped against a given wall surface in suitably spaced positions For use, for example, by a sign painter, a horizontal plank spanning the space between and supported by hangers carried by the stiles of said ladders, said plank providing a scaffold, a horizontally elongated rod having forward and rearward ends, and adapter means mounted on one of the stiles of one of said ladders, said rod being pivotally and adjustably mounted on said one stile, the forward end of said rod having a rigid head joined to the rod proper by a reduced neck to which one end of a chalk line is tied and thus anchored in a snap line wall marking position.
 5. The combination defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said rod is slidingly mounted and is spring biased and cushioned in a manner to yieldingly contact said wall surface. 